The Durants strove throughout The Story of Civilization to create what they called "integral history." They opposed it to the "specialization" of history, an anticipatory rejection of what some have called the "cult of the expert." Their goal was to write a "biography" of a civilization, in this case, the West, including not just the usual wars, politics and biography of greatness and villainy but also the culture, art, philosophy, religion, and the rise of mass communication. Much of The Story c...

The Story of Civilization, by husband and wife Will and Ariel Durant, is an eleven-volume set of books covering Western history for the general reader. The volumes sold well for many years, and sets of them were frequently offered by book clubs. An unabridged audiobook production of all eleven-volumes was produced by Books On Tape Inc. and was read by Alexander Adams (aka Grover Gardner). The series was written over a span of more than four decades. It totals four million words across nearly 10,0...

heavythrower wrote:My 13 year old daughter has, over the last 2 years, shown an increasing interest in world history, so far as to tell me that she wants to be a history teacher when she grows up.

I am a history buff myself(nearly double majored in Eastern European History while in college), and am thrilled that she has shown an interest in this.

I love the questions she asks me and the discussions it leads too.

I want to encourage and nurture this...

I chose to post this here because there are lots of smart very well read people on this forum...

any suggestions as to good books for younger readers that she might enjoy?

PS: please leave any partisan bickering out of this thread...I welcome liberal, conservative, and libertarian/moderates suggestions.

thank you...

cool that your daughter are interrested in history

I would recommend "out of many" if she is into american history. do only know the title.

another one would be "the origin of the modern world" by an american historian named Robert. Marks ( not marx LOL ). Its a bit "political", but its written in a loose and funny way. Hes point is to break the eurosentristic historian perception.

If she is into Indian history: INDIA by D.R.Sardesai is wery informativ.

edit: this are books for students in university, but if she is smart it shouldt be a problem.

I've heard mixed things from people about Howard Zinn's, People's History of America. Personally, I enjoyed it and thought it well-written.Not really a history book but Count of Monte Cristo has some history in it.Another not entirely a history book that is ok, Guns, Germs, and Steel. It's about why Europeans conquered the Americas, and not vice-versa.I would check out (auto)biographys as well, as those can have a lot of valuable first-person historical information about a culture/country.

MattyG35 wrote:I've heard mixed things from people about Howard Zinn's, People's History of America. Personally, I enjoyed it and thought it well-written.

Quoted for truth. Read it in high school and like to skim through it every once in a while. Like Matty mentioned; it does have mixed reviews, but it would be an excellent starting point.Not really history more like historical, but i would suggest the Prince by Machiavelli. I think teens should read it to help them understand more deeper level of "Why's" rather than the shallow how and whens. My 2 cents

Jens Ingvald Bjørneboe (9 October 1920 – 9 May 1976) was a Norwegian writer whose work spanned a number of literary formats. He was also a painter and a Waldorf school teacher. Bjørneboe was a harsh and eloquent critic of Norwegian society and Western civilization on the whole. He led a turbulent life and his uncompromising opinions cost him both an obscenity conviction as well as long periods of heavy drinking and bouts of depression, which in the end led to his suicide. Jens Bjørneboe's first p...

The History of Bestiality is a trilogy by the Norwegian writer Jens Bjørneboe. It consists of the three books Moment of Freedom ("Frihetens øyeblikk", 1966), Powderhouse ("Kruttårnet", 1969) and The Silence ("Stillheten", 1973). Moment of Freedom: the Heiligenberg Manuscript.

Jens Ingvald Bjørneboe (9 October 1920 – 9 May 1976) was a Norwegian writer whose work spanned a number of literary formats. He was also a painter and a Waldorf school teacher. Bjørneboe was a harsh and eloquent critic of Norwegian society and Western civilization on the whole. He led a turbulent life and his uncompromising opinions cost him both an obscenity conviction as well as long periods of heavy drinking and bouts of depression, which in the end led to his suicide. Jens Bjørneboe's first p...

The History of Bestiality is a trilogy by the Norwegian writer Jens Bjørneboe. It consists of the three books Moment of Freedom ("Frihetens øyeblikk", 1966), Powderhouse ("Kruttårnet", 1969) and The Silence ("Stillheten", 1973). Moment of Freedom: the Heiligenberg Manuscript.

and here is a link from wikipedia about the triology.

He asks for history books for his 13 year old daughter and you suggest "A history of bestiality"?

Jens Ingvald Bjørneboe (9 October 1920 – 9 May 1976) was a Norwegian writer whose work spanned a number of literary formats. He was also a painter and a Waldorf school teacher. Bjørneboe was a harsh and eloquent critic of Norwegian society and Western civilization on the whole. He led a turbulent life and his uncompromising opinions cost him both an obscenity conviction as well as long periods of heavy drinking and bouts of depression, which in the end led to his suicide. Jens Bjørneboe's first p...

The History of Bestiality is a trilogy by the Norwegian writer Jens Bjørneboe. It consists of the three books Moment of Freedom ("Frihetens øyeblikk", 1966), Powderhouse ("Kruttårnet", 1969) and The Silence ("Stillheten", 1973). Moment of Freedom: the Heiligenberg Manuscript.

and here is a link from wikipedia about the triology.

He asks for history books for his 13 year old daughter and you suggest "A history of bestiality"?

I approve.

more of a suggestion for everybody here on the forum.

Its perhaps one the best books I have read and its history-ish, so I wanted to put it out there.

Jens Ingvald Bjørneboe (9 October 1920 – 9 May 1976) was a Norwegian writer whose work spanned a number of literary formats. He was also a painter and a Waldorf school teacher. Bjørneboe was a harsh and eloquent critic of Norwegian society and Western civilization on the whole. He led a turbulent life and his uncompromising opinions cost him both an obscenity conviction as well as long periods of heavy drinking and bouts of depression, which in the end led to his suicide. Jens Bjørneboe's first p...

The History of Bestiality is a trilogy by the Norwegian writer Jens Bjørneboe. It consists of the three books Moment of Freedom ("Frihetens øyeblikk", 1966), Powderhouse ("Kruttårnet", 1969) and The Silence ("Stillheten", 1973). Moment of Freedom: the Heiligenberg Manuscript.

MattyG35 wrote:I've heard mixed things from people about Howard Zinn's, People's History of America. Personally, I enjoyed it and thought it well-written.

Quoted for truth. Read it in high school and like to skim through it every once in a while. Like Matty mentioned; it does have mixed reviews, but it would be an excellent starting point.Not really history more like historical, but i would suggest the Prince by Machiavelli. I think teens should read it to help them understand more deeper level of "Why's" rather than the shallow how and whens. My 2 cents

I am currently reading "A Peoples History of America" though obvious which side of the aisle the author is coming from...still an interesting read.

Most of what has been posted here is a little to advanced for a 13 year old. I guess I am looking for more fun introduction type material that will get her into reading more about history, perhaps even some historical fiction...

heavythrower wrote:Most of what has been posted here is a little to advanced for a 13 year old. I guess I am looking for more fun introduction type material that will get her into reading more about history, perhaps even some historical fiction...

sorry if you felt I derailed you tread, but to make it up to you I will add a linkwith a suggestion for a book series of historical fiction or fantasy.

The Pendragon Cycle is a series of historical fantasy books based on the Arthurian legend, written by Stephen R. Lawhead. The Cycle was originally "The Pendragon Trilogy", but after Arthur's rather abrupt ending, and the existence of many unexplored stories and plotlines, Lawhead decided to expand on his trilogy by writing additional books. Avalon is not considered to be a true member of the Cycle, but rather a 'related semi-sequel' to it. The series is a work of fiction that takes place in the...

Its in short a new version of the arthur legend or a celtic version. The author triesto make it more historical correct than the older legends, but it is also a fantasy talewith magic and elves, so take it for what it is. read it when I was a teen myself and enjoyedit and it sparked a interrest in older history.

heavythrower wrote:Most of what has been posted here is a little to advanced for a 13 year old. I guess I am looking for more fun introduction type material that will get her into reading more about history, perhaps even some historical fiction...

If she was a boy I would suggest James Clavell and Mika Waltari, but since she is a girl she probably likes horses and flowers and everything pink.

In addition his science fiction, Isaac Asimov wrote a good bit on European history. I read some of it as a youth (7th/8th grade). I can't recommend any specific books, because I don't remember them. I personally just read them because I was amazed the guy that invented the three laws of robotics also wrote about stuff that actually happened.

Point is, he writes in a conversational style thats easy to get into, and he covers history. Would recommend, though probably wouldn't read again (because I'm not THAT into history).

I am currently reading "A Peoples History of America" though obvious which side of the aisle the author is coming from...still an interesting read.

So true. I dont agree with him all the time but its interesting to see him fight it out with Sidney Hook. While I dont agree with some things I like to see both sides of the spectrum esp when its Zinn and Hook. Seeing the bigger ppicture concept ya knowwww?Robert Diclerico Points of View, is a schoolbook but it provides both sides of the spectrum (sometimes 3 sides). An excellent view into American Politics by examples rather than theories in a very simple manner (direct comparisons), but idk how it would do for a 13yr olds. Read it when I was 15 but you would need to have some basic backround in American Politics.

Caribbean and Poland written by James A. Michener are historical and amazing reads. I would recommend Caribbean and if she likes the style then she should read Poland. Fyi- Although many of the characters aren't real, almost all places and events are in these books are historical.

heavythrower wrote:Most of what has been posted here is a little to advanced for a 13 year old. I guess I am looking for more fun introduction type material that will get her into reading more about history, perhaps even some historical fiction...

If she was a boy I would suggest James Clavell and Mika Waltari, but since she is a girl she probably likes horses and flowers and everything pink.

Shogun by James Clavell was almost enough to give me an A in East Asian History. Fantastic book. I read it in grade 7 but I am a boy. I don't wanna be mean, but the earlier you get used to reading boring shit the sooner you can actually get somewhere in history.

Although, "Guns, germs, and steel" is probably the most understandable and easily subscribed too version of historical thought I have come across.